During a three-party meeting at the prime minister´s residence at Baluwatar Sunday morning, NC and the UML leaders rejected the proposal by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal saying that border security is a sensitive issue so it would be unwise to deploy politically indoctrinated combatants on the border.[break]
According to participants in the meeting, Maoist leaders had pressed the NC and UML leaders to first agree on the mandate of the proposed NA directorate and the number of combatants to be included in it. The Maoist leaders later suggested that the combatants management issue should be dealt with and settled step by step.
However, NC and Maoist leaders insisted that all the issues related to modality, numbers, rank harmonization and mandate regarding the integration of combatants should be settled in a ´package deal´.
Participating leaders said they failed to arrive at consensus on all issues related to integration. While the Maoist demanded that 8,000 Maoist combatants should be integrated, NC remained firm on its stance that the number should not exceed 4,000 as per the understanding reached before. UML leaders had also supported to the NC´s position.
Likewise, differences persisted also on rank harmonization after Maoist Chairman Dahal proposed that Maoist combatants with necessary academic qualifications should also be given senior positions including generals in the Nepal Army.
As differences persisted, the big three parties have agreed to form an informal taskforce comprising two leaders each from the three parties for sorting out the contentious issues related to the peace process, according to Maoist Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.
The taskforce comprises Shrestha and Barsha Man Pun from the UCPN (Maoist), Ram Chandra Paudel and Dr Ram Sharan Mahat from the NC and Madhav Kumar Nepal and Ishwar Pokharel from the UML.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, NC Vice-president Paudel said, "We have decided to continue further discussions to arrive at consensus on all issues related to integration," he said.
Maoist Vice-chairman Shrestha said they also discussed the incentive package for the Maoist combatants choosing rehabilitation. "We have made no proposal against the CPA and other past agreements," he argued.
NC leader Shekhar Koirala alleged that Maoists were trying to go back on the past agreements regarding integration of combatants.
Koirala argued that the Maoists should either accept the NA´s proposal on integration in its entirety or agree to expedite the integration process as per the Agreement on Management of Arms and Armies and the CPA. "This is political dishonesty on the part of the Maoists to argue that they would accept NA´s proposal only in part," he added.
NC presses PM, Dahal on five-point deal
During the meeting, NC President Koirala asked the Prime Minister Khanal and Maoist Chairman Dahal to sincerely implement the 29 May five-point deal. He complained that there had not been any tangible progress in the peace process
NC leaders also asked Khanal to appoint office bearers in various universities and resolve the issue of Bharatpur Cancer Hospital amicably. They stressed on the need to bring new budget on consensus.
NC leaders also took strong exception to the government´s plan to recall ambassadors appointed by the past government.
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